IMD Weather Alert: Dense Fog, Cold Wave, and Snowfall Across India
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued its latest bulletin warning of persistent dense fog over northern plains, cold wave to severe cold wave conditions in parts of southern and central India, and fresh spells of rainfall and snowfall over the Western Himalayas. The All India Weather Summary and Forecast Bulletin, released by the National Weather Forecasting Centre on Saturday morning, indicates that these challenging weather conditions are likely to continue through Christmas and beyond, potentially affecting travel, aviation, agriculture, and daily life.
Snowfall and Rainfall in the Western Himalayas
The Western Himalayan region is expected to be the most active weather zone over the coming days due to the influence of western disturbances. The IMD forecasts isolated rainfall and snowfall in this region for the next four days, raising concerns about road connectivity, particularly along mountain passes and high-altitude highways.
Meteorologists note that the western disturbance will bring sustained cloud cover, snowfall in higher reaches, and occasional rainfall in lower Himalayan areas. Additionally, isolated rainfall is expected over Punjab from December 20 to 22, which may further compound the existing cold and foggy conditions in northern India.
Dense Fog to Affect Northern Plains, Disrupt Travel Through Christmas Week
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of persistent dense to very dense fog across large parts of north India, posing significant hazards for commuters and travelers. Night and early morning hours are expected to see severely reduced visibility in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, and parts of Madhya Pradesh over the coming days.
On December 20, isolated places in Bihar, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are likely to experience dense to very dense fog. The situation is expected to intensify in East Uttar Pradesh on December 21, with dense fog conditions forecast. Fog is predicted to persist until at least December 26, which may affect road, rail, and air travel during the Christmas week.
Shallow to moderate fog has also been reported in Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Meghalaya, Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and parts of the northeast, indicating that fog-related disruptions may extend beyond the Indo-Gangetic plains. Travelers are advised to plan ahead and exercise caution while commuting in these regions.
Cold Wave Conditions Spread to Southern and Central India
As north India grapples with dense fog and snowfall, several parts of southern and central India are witnessing unusually cold nights. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), cold wave conditions are likely at isolated places over Telangana and south interior Karnataka on December 20 and 21, while North Interior Karnataka may experience cold wave to severe cold wave conditions during the same period. West Madhya Pradesh is also expected to record cold wave conditions on December 20.
Data from December 19 indicates that minimum temperatures across large parts of the country were significantly below normal. North Interior Karnataka recorded temperatures over 5°C below average at several locations. Other regions including Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, Odisha, and parts of central India also reported appreciably to markedly below-normal minimum temperatures. The lowest minimum temperature on the plains was recorded at Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh, dropping to 4.0°C.
The IMD forecasts a brief rise in night temperatures over northwest India by 2-3°C over the next two days. However, this temporary relief is expected to be short-lived, as minimum temperatures are likely to drop again by 2-4°C during the following five days, continuing the cold wave trend across many regions.
East, Central India, and Gujarat Weather Outlook
East India is expected to experience little change in minimum temperatures over the next four days, followed by a gradual fall of around 2°C. The Gujarat region may see relatively stable temperatures in the short term, with a slight decline thereafter. Meanwhile, Maharashtra, central India, and the northeastern states are likely to witness largely unchanged minimum temperatures over the coming week.
On December 19, Bihar recorded markedly below-normal maximum temperatures at most locations, while West Uttar Pradesh experienced below-normal daytime readings at a few places. In contrast, parts of Gujarat remained warmer, with Rajkot recording the highest maximum temperature in the country at 35.2°C.
A cyclonic circulation over the southeast Arabian Sea has shifted eastward to the Gulf of Mannar, bringing unsettled weather to southern coastal waters and parts of Tamil Nadu.
Fog Forecast
From December 23 onwards, dense fog is expected over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, while the northeast will continue to see foggy mornings in isolated pockets. By Christmas Day and December 26, dense to very dense fog is likely at isolated places across the northern plains, potentially disrupting holiday travel.
IMD Advisory
The IMD has urged citizens to take precautions against cold exposure, especially in regions under cold wave and severe cold wave warnings. Drivers are advised to exercise caution due to reduced visibility, and farmers are recommended to protect standing crops in frost-prone areas.
